Lauren Babuik Interviews Niru Bhatia and Hidden Gems returns to The Plaza Theatre with “The Waiting City”

Posted on 13 February 2011 by Calgary Beacon

By Lauren Babuik, reporter
http://www.calgarybeacon.com/2011/02/niru-bhatia-and-hidden-gems-returns-to-the-plaza-theatre-with-“the-waiting-city”/#more-41397

Niru Bhatia and the Hidden Gems Film Organization are set to screen Australian film “The Waiting City” at the Plaza in Kensington Feb. 20 at 4 pm. The film is brought to you by the same group behind the Hidden Gems Indian Film Festival of October. 

This time around, the group presents an outsider’s look into India, with director Claire McCarthy centered on a young couple’s journey to Calcutta to adopt a baby, only to find that the adoption has not yet been finalized. It is in Calcutta where the marriage of the couple is tested. 

The film is not yet released in Canada or the United States, and is a one-night only event, making this screening a rare experience that should be taken advantage of. Bhatia says that this film differs from previous screenings in that instead of showing India as Indians see it, the country is interpreted as foreigners see it.

“The director is Australian, the lead actors are Australian, and the story is so timely, how people are adopting children from other countries and what happens when you do that,” said Bhatia, “It is very colourful, it offers all the sights that you can see in Calcutta; there are festivals, there are weddings.”

The inspiration for her first full-length feature film came when McCarthy ventured to India with her sister to volunteer in Mother Theresa’s orphanage in Calcutta, and saw firsthand the adoption process of Indian children by foreigners.

According to Bhatia, McCarthy utilized surprise and spontaneity in “The Waiting City”, in order to present raw insight.

“What is nice about this is normally the actors rehearse and do all those things. They didn’t have that much time, she knew where the festivals were happening, where the weddings were happening and she just dropped them in that situation. 

So their reactions are very spontaneous and very believable. Instead of a polished, rehearsed film this is a spontaneous film,” described Bhatia, adding that, “it is so different from what you are used to.”

Tickets for “The Waiting City” cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door. There is a group discount of 10% for the purchase of 20-30 tickets and 20% for 31 or more. There is also a student discount of $2.

Filmgoers also have the opportunity to purchase a Hidden Gems membership for $25, which entitles them to see the first 3 films for free, as well as a discount on the annual festival pass.

For tickets call Niru Bhatia (403) 457-3036 or email: hiddengemsff@shaw.ca

To view the trailer for “The Waiting City”, please visit www.hiddengemsfilmfestival.com

Also upcoming: In May, Hidden Gems celebrates the 150th birthday of India’s Noble laureate Sri Rabindranath Tagore, a poet, author and composer. In the honor of this occasion, Hidden Gems will be screening two unreleased films based on his stories. 

For more information, please visit www.hiddengemsfilmfestival.com